Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Prime Standard, ISIN: DE 000 566480 9, WKN 566480) today announced the results of a Phase II proof-of-concept study investigating the potential of EVT 302, a reversible and highly selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), as an aid to smoking cessation.

EVT 302 failed to demonstrate any significant improvement in the quit rate compared with placebo. The combination of EVT 302 with a nicotine replacement patch also failed to demonstrate any significant benefit over nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) alone. The study was well performed and the placebo quit rate was well within expectations ensuring adequate power to demonstrate any treatment effect. Throughout this study EVT 302 was well tolerated with subjects experiencing very few treatment-related adverse events.

The study reported today was performed double blind in Germany with 414 otherwise healthy smokers who were motivated to quit smoking. The study assessed whether 8 weeks treatment with EVT 302 resulted in an increase in quit rate compared to placebo. The study also included a comparison of EVT 302 added to NRT (21 mg patch once daily) vs NRT alone to see if there was any additive benefit for the two treatments taken together.
Once a full analysis of all the data is completed Evotec will re-assess the future of EVT 302, given the overall potential of MAO-B-inhibitors in a number of indications and the excellent safety profile demonstrated by EVT 302 in this study.

Strict cost containment by focusing Evotec's pipeline and de-risking its business according to the "Evotec 2012 - Action Plan to Focus and Grow" is the right strategy also in light of this clinical outcome."

Contact: Anne Hennecke, SVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Evotec AG, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany, Phone: +49.(0)40.560 81-286, anne.hennecke@evotec.com